Departure for Wichita

Matt Dillon had two things on in his mind as he and Chester left Doc at the Teek farm. One was how to make sure the homestead remained with Brandon and Sarah Teek. That would require convincing Lee Sprague to deed the land he'd obtained through a loophole back to Teek. The other was to see to it the Wichita deputy Jim Haley, Judge Rambeau's pet, returned home in disgrace. He made sure Haley got on his rented horse to accompany them to the Dodge jail.

"Haley, I'm leveling two charges against you, exceeding your authority and assault," Matt said as Chester turned the key to lock the cell door. "Chester and I will accompany you on the next train to Wichita right to your boss with a stop at the federal circuit judge's office."

The next train leaving the Santa Fe depot wasn't until the late evening. While he waited Matt sent off a telegram to Judge Brookings, who he knew was in Wichita. Chester raced into Delmonico's while he and Kitty were having an early supper with the response.

"Based on information supplied Haley to stand trial STOP Will provide warrant with charges upon your arrival at my chambers STOP Judge Brookings.

Matt wore his Peacemaker at his hip and Chester carried a shotgun as they escorted the handcuffed Deputy Haley to the depot at 8:45. The overnight train left Dodge right on time, arriving at the Wichita station at 7 AM. It took them 15 minutes to walk their prisoner through the streets to Judge Brookings' Chambers. The judge rose to meet them when the clerk opened the door to his office.

"Marshal, I'll walk with you and your assistant to Sheriff Tucker's office," Judge Brookings said, extending his hand to first Matt and then Chester. "I've instructed Judge Rambeau to meet us there."

Tucker took his feet off his desk when the four men entered his office and stood up. He shook hands with Matt, whom he knew slightly from previous visits. Once Judge Brookings made the introductions Tucker did the same with Chester. If his eyes weren't quick he wouldn't have spotted the momentary frown the Wichita sheriff sent his cuffed deputy. By the time everyone except Haley was seated, the sheriff in the chair behind his desk again, Regional Land Commission Judge Rambeau arrived.

"Rambeau, I believe you know everyone in this room except United States Marshal Matt Dillon's personal assistant Chester Goode," Brookings stated, watching the other judge's countenance blanch. "It seems your attempts to put Marshal Dillon in his place have backfired. They might have worked had Mr. Dillon been merely a cow town lawman, which he is by the way. However, while he represents the law in Dodge City it's in his capacity as the United States Marshal for Kansas that he also has jurisdiction over Ford County. He pulled rank on your puppy dog Haley when his high-handed methods resulted in Mrs. Teek losing her baby. Marshal Dillon did his duty according to the law and arrested him."

"I merely followed through on what the law says I must," Matt explained to the discombobulated Judge Rambeau. "Given Haley's overstepping his legitimate authority I thought it wise to escort him back to where he had some standing with due precaution."

Sheriff Tucker took Matt's statement as his signal to lock his deputy in a cell. "Judge Rambeau if you wish to hire Jim Haley you may but only after, if he's convicted, he serves his sentence," the sheriff told the astonished commission judge. "Jim, whatever the outcome of your trial, you're fired as my deputy. You spent most of your time fetching and carrying for Rambeau rather than helping me keep the peace," he added as he grabbed Haley's arm to lead him to a cell.

Judge Brookings convened the trial with no more than a half hour's delay. Judge Rambeau spoke in his defense but his strict legal argument proved to be more harmful than helpful when compared to the testimony of Matt Dillon and Chester Goode concerning the events at the Teek farm. All Haley, who chose not to have a jury, could do was offer excuses for his overbearing and in the end violent behavior. Judge Brookings sentenced him to work on an outlying Marion County farm where new land was being cleared for planting in the spring for the next three months. He could only hope he gained some understanding of the work Brandon and Sarah Teek put into their land the past year and passed that understanding on to Judge Rambeau. Of course the judge had to take Haley's report seriously.

The trial was quick. Matt and Chester were able to catch the noon train west, which would get them into Dodge City by 10 that night. Being the conscientious men they were the two made their rounds to make sure Dodge was safe and secure immediately upon their return. As each finished, Chester made his way to his cot in the jailhouse office while Matt climbed the backstairs of the Long Branch.

Matt began to try to convince Lee Sprague to allow the Teeks to keep the land they'd worked so hard on. What worked was the fact both Lee and Brandon lost a baby on a similar place under comparable circumstances. A week later Sprague endorsed the deed over to Teek. It didn't go smoothly. Teek was convinced he'd been done out of his land so he didn't hear local land commission agent Straker out. Brandon Teek finally accepted the land was now his but not before Matt had to break him and Sprague apart. Once both men left Matt smiled. He'd done right by the Teeks and managed to take both the toady Haley and the smug Judge Rambeau down a peg or two. On top of it Lee Sprague had also learned not to forget his humanity.